Northern Observations of Inland Birds 187 



and the raven, it is generally admitted, comes a long way 

 behind the magpie, the jay, and in many localities even 

 the rook. 



All these birds mate for life, and each spring brings a 

 glorious reunion. They may have suffered the hardships 

 of winter together, betw^een them the loyalty of lifelong 

 partnership, uninfluenced by sexual interest, but, as in 

 the case of the partridge, they meet as it were as new 

 acquaintances in March, and with a passion as burning 

 as that of those who live together only for the brief period 

 of the Love Moon. It is said that the raven lives to a 

 great age. 



That the love of the mated couples for one another 

 does not die even during those seasons when it is devoid 

 of all mating interest, seems to be proved by the fact 

 that when one is in difficulties the other will return in 

 the face of danger time and again to feed it. This, a 

 sense of affection outside the breeding season, is the 

 loftiest proof of brute inteUigence that we have, and 

 among birds it realizes its zenith in the crow family. 



The above applies to the raven and the carrion crow, 

 but I am not sure of the hooded variety. He is a sly 

 dog, and I have an inkling that he is a gay dog also. 

 As a rule he is solitary, except at roosting times. Flocks 

 of grey crows may be seen where they are abundant, 

 but such gatherings are rare in the parts of England and 

 Scotland with which I am most famiHar. A large number 

 of our grey crows are chance migrants, and this fact, 

 together with their solitude of disposition, renders it 

 very difficult to arrive at any definite conclusion as regards 

 their mating habits. 



